“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
It is rather common for Christian counselors to suggest that new Christians or non-Christians begin reading the Bible at the gospel of John or some other New Testament book. They feel it is most important to introduce them to what is revealed concerning Christ, leaving the histories and prophecies of the Old Testament for more mature students of the word.
But this was not the way that Christ chose to teach. He began in Genesis! Perhaps we should follow His example, for the New Testament contains at least 200 quotations or clear allusions to Genesis, not to mention all the references to other Old Testament books. Since New Testament writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, clearly expected their readers to understand these Old Testament allusions, it seems reasonable that people should be familiar with the Old Testament before tackling the New. One could even argue that the woeful Biblical illiteracy of modern Christians and their many compromises on basic doctrinal issues is because of this cart-before-the-horse approach to Bible study. As Jesus Himself said: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46,47).
The person and work of Jesus Christ are often more fully revealed in the Old Testament than in the New (e.g., Isaiah 53). It is especially vital that one know and believe the Book of Genesis, which is the foundation of all the rest of Scripture. Jesus Christ was our Creator before He became our redeemer, and a person must comprehend something of the awful reality of sin and the curse, before he can comprehend his need for the atonement. Christ is in all the Scripture, and one must begin at the beginning to know His fullness. HMM
